Asean must transcend regional borders: Najib

KUALA LUMPUR: The Association of Southeast Asia Nations (Asean) must look beyond their border and take a more active role in the international community, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak urged.
He said there is a need for Asean to remain committed with the global development especially with the arising international issues that need to be addressed and solved with nations from other regions.
"We believe it is timely, therefore, for Asean's united voice to be heard more frequently in multilateral fora," he said, adding with with an increasingly durable regional architecture in place, there is no reason why Asean should not take a more active role in the international community.
"We need to look beyond our borders, and do so together," said Najib.
The Prime Minister also stressed that region-to-region cooperation and dialogue is essential and more effective at dealing with issues of international magnitude.
"This is partly because there are so many issues today, such as climate change, transnational crime, the threat of violent extremism, migration and overlapping claims that cannot be resolved by individual nations alone," said Najib in his opening address of the 48th Asean Foreign Ministers' Meeting at Putra World Trade Centre here today.
Also present were his wife Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor, Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Anifah Aman, as well as dignitaries and representatives from the Asean member states.
Citing several international reports commending the economic development of the region, Najib said, the ability of Asean as a global force should not be underestimated.
"The report also observed that 'our potential is greater than is commonly understood'. That is true.
"And if Asean is sometimes somewhat underestimated, we must be careful that we are not guilty of that ourselves. We should be confident about our future, and we should be vocal about our confidence," he said.
Najib added that it is about time for Asean to fulfill its potential.
Quoting the US Council on Foreign Relations, Najib said Asean has the capacity to firmly establish itself as the essential regional organisation in Asia.
"Shouldn't the essential regional organisation of Asia be a well-recognised and respected voice in all global settings, and one that is heard on every single important issue – from the environment to security, development priorities, legal disputes, and even the future of great international institutions such as the UN, the World Bank and IMF?" he said.
"Asean should not be shy about reaching out and connecting with the world," Najib said, adding that the meeting this week would include a total of 27 states, from the Asean realm to the international regions.
Najib said this year would be a test for Asean as it will be heading for the establishment of the Asean Community in November.
"The establishment of Asean Community is, however, an opportunity to transform our ten nation group and forge a new place in the world. To connect in a new way, with a new sense of identity born of having become a community," he said.
"For that transformation to take place, it must begin at home, in the countries of Asean. We need to raise awareness of what Asean is doing and of how the ongoing changes will benefit all," he added.